Recommended Articles

DU braces for security, traffic, parking headaches as debate nears

Wait staff Racquel Matthews, left, and Alana Ewton at Crimson and Gold Tavern, 2017 S. University Blvd. in Denver, serve lunch customers Saturday. The tavern is looking forward to the potential of increased business from the debate festivities. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

So near, yet so far away — that's what struck 26-year-old Kelly Jepson as she stood in front of her apartment building on Buchtel Boulevard watching workers ready the University of Denver's Magness Center for the Oct. 3 presidential debate.

Jepson would love to catch a glimpse of political history, but all she'll get out of her proximity to the big event is some logistical headaches as vehicle access to her building gets cut off.

"I think it's awesome that they're having this here, and I'm excited that the president will be this close," she said. "But I'm sad I can't see him."

Closures and accommodations for the debate will affect parking and traffic on campus and in the surrounding area as DU prepares to welcome President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

The Spot Blog

The effects will start to be felt this week, as already-challenging traffic around the urban campus turns sluggish and access to campus buildings narrows in anticipation of tight security measures.

But the real impact comes next week, Oct. 1-4, surrounding the debate itself and the DebateFest, an on-campus carnival of food, music and issues that will culminate with a giant-screen outdoor watch party.

Admission is already full to that free event, restricted to 5,000 people from DU and the surrounding community from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
on Oct. 3. Attendees are encouraged to walk or bike to the DebateFest, which will feature a free bicycle valet service, before showing identification to confirm their registration and enter the fenced-off area.

Advertisement

Above: Kelly Jepson, 26, stands in the doorway of her Denver apartment building Friday. Jepson, who lives across the street from the University of Denver's Magness Arena, site of the Oct. 3 presidential debate, says it's great that the debate is happening across the street from her apartment, but she is not looking forward to the road closures. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

Commuters who head downtown using University Boulevard should consider an alternate route — definitely on the day of the debate, when there's a possibility that part of University could be closed, as well as the day after, when crews will be dismantling equipment and heading out of the area.

But DU stressed that with multiple agencies planning the event, logistics could shift at any time.

Jepson, a graduate student at the University of Colorado Denver who works downtown and relies on her car and light rail, will lose access to the apartment building's parking lot Oct. 1 — as will other residents in the Buchtel Plaza Apartments and the University Park Towers on Buchtel.

With Buchtel closed between University Boulevard and South High Street, those residents will be allowed to park in the garage at the University Regional Transportation District light-rail station so they can come and go from the area.

East Asbury Avenue also will be closed from University to South High.

As of Friday, RTD was still planning on running its entire system, including buses and light-rail lines, though some routes will be altered on the day of the debate because of street closures. Again, all plans are subject to change.

"We're asking people to add more time to their commute and have patience on that day," said RTD spokeswoman Daria Serna. "Otherwise, we plan to work around the situation and get our passengers where they need to be."

Campus-area businesses may have to endure tough traffic conditions, but some are gearing up for increased foot traffic associated with the debate.

At the Crimson and Gold Tavern on University Boulevard, bar manager Garrett Donelli said they're looking into whether they can move forward with a promotion featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales but remain unsure whether road closures will spoil the plans.

"We're trying to find out whether we can buy the meter spaces out front," said Donelli. "Either way, the debate sounds fun to us. We're going to be staffed for it."

Click on image to enlarge (The Denver Post)

Across the street at South Philly Cheese Steaks, bartender Karli Goos has the feeling that on debate day, the frenzied activity is "going to be a zoo."

"It'll be good for business," she said. "There will be a lot of people who have never been here before. We're prepped for a huge rush."

On campus, the university will close on the Wednesday of the debate, with only essential debate personnel having access to parking.

"Parking is already crazy," said student Katherine Thomas, a 19-year-old sophomore from Denver, adding that sometimes it's difficult to find a space even with a permit.

But on the Monday and Tuesday preceding the debate, all permit holders will be accommodated as DU consolidates its available spaces, said Buddy Knox, the school's director of parking management and transportation.

And students such as Thomas who live on campus in a dormitory and have a permit will still have a place to park. But commuter students could have difficulty.

"What we're in short supply of is visitor parking, hourly metered parking on Oct. 1 and 2," said Knox, who oversees 5,000 spaces that will be reduced to about 700 for essential personnel after subtracting spaces earmarked for VIPs, media and others. "It's available but in short supply."

He encouraged visitors to call the parking office at 303-871-3210 to check on availability. Meanwhile, DU is encouraging faculty and staff to carpool or use public transportation the week of the debate.

For those who weren't lucky enough to get one of the 200 student lottery spots for the live debate and didn't register for the DebateFest, the crush of activity may just encourage them to simply avoid the logistical hassle.

"I do live on campus," said 20-year-old Matthew O'Keefe, a junior from Greenwood Village. "But my parents live about 10 minutes south. So on the day of the debate, I'm out of here."